The game ended in exciting fashion for the Miners. With two outs in the fifth and Yreka up 10-2 and a runner on base, junior Gabe Durney connected with the ball and launched it over the fence for a home run to end the game due to the 10-run mercy rule.

The crowd erupted in cheers as a beaming Durney rounded the bases while his pumped up teammates waited at home plate to congratulate him. It was his fifth home run of the season.

Gabe said that he knew a home run could end the contest and prayed before he went up to bat that he could put the game away.

"I went up to the plate and knew I had to use all my strength to end it," he said. When he connected with the ball he said he knew it was going over the fence.

"It's great to do well against a good team," Durney said. "Now, we get to play another day."

Durney finished 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBI's, and two runs.

This was the fifth time this year the two teams had met.

In March, Yreka downed the Falcons in a tourney in Etna. During the Northern Athletic League regular season, Central Valley downed Yreka in a doubleheader at Hibbard while the Miners won a game at Central Valley.

Yreka improved to 17-13-2 for the season while Central Valley ended the year at 15-17.

Senior pitcher Cody Hoff pitched a five inning one-hit performance for the Miners. He finished with six strikeouts. Michael Schuler went 2-for-3 with three runs, an RBI and a double. Matt Jespersen finished 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Christian Charles went 1-for-3 with a an RBI and a run. Evan Bosinger went 1-for-1 with a run and a stolen base.

Head coach Jason Freitas was pleased with the way his team came out and was able to hit the ball well and get timely hits."We got a lot of two strike hits," Freitas said.

With one out in the bottom of the first, Schuler smacked a double deep into the outfield to get things going for the Miners as Yreka had a 2-0 advantage after an inning of play. The top of the second the Falcons scored a run to cut the deficit to 2-1. Yreka answered back with two quick runs the bottom of the second. Durney smashed a hit to bring in two runs to make things 6-1 in favor of the Miners.

Page 2 of 2 - In the third inning, Central Valley scored a run the top of the inning. Yreka continued to hit the ball well the bottom of the inning with Jespersen hitting a double to bring home Dustin Jochim. Jespersen eventually scored to make things 8-2. Yreka scored a run in the fourth and one in the fifth before Yreka scored two runs thanks to Durney's home run blast to end the game.

On Tuesday, Yreka faces another familiar foe for the right to move on to the section title game on Saturday. The Miners head to Susanville to face the No. 2 seed, the NAL champion Lassen Grizzlies at 4 p.m. Yreka lost to Lassen in a doubleheader on the road and downed the Grizzlies at home this year in NAL play. Last season, Yreka made it to the section title game before falling to Sutter, the team that is currently the No. 1 seed again this season.